Pope Benedict gave his last Audience today. As you can see, Piazza San Pietro was packed. In his address, he gave a quick discussion about the nature of the Church…

Standing Room Only

Pope Benedict gave his last Audience today. As you can see, Piazza San Pietro was packed. In his address, he gave a quick discussion about the nature of the Church when he described the response to his resignation.

At this point I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the many people throughout the whole world, who, in recent weeks have sent me moving tokens of concern, friendship and prayer. Yes, the Pope is never alone: now I experience this [truth] again in a way so great as to touch my very heart. The Pope belongs to everyone, and so many people feel very close to him. It’s true that I receive letters from the world’s greatest figures – from the Heads of State, religious leaders, representatives of the world of culture and so on. I also receive many letters from ordinary people who write to me simply from their heart and let me feel their affection, which is born of our being together in Christ Jesus, in the Church. These people do not write me as one might write, for example, to a prince or a great figure one does not know. They write as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, with the sense of very affectionate family ties. Here, one can touch what the Church is – not an organization, not an association for religious or humanitarian purposes, but a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ, who unites us all. To experience the Church in this way and almost be able to touch with one’s hands the power of His truth and His love, is a source of joy, in a time in which many speak of its decline.

“They write as brothers and sisters.” Beautiful. What other world leader shares this feeling of kinship with the rest of us who are not dignitaries?

More importantly, the Church is “not an organization,” but “a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ, who unites us all.”

I continue in my belief that Benedict’s decision to resign is a momentous time of reform and readying the Church for the modern age. Last week, B16 addressed the Roman…

I continue in my belief that Benedict’s decision to resign is a momentous time of reform and readying the Church for the modern age. Last week, B16 addressed the Roman clergy and gave informal remarks reflecting on Vatican II. They were in many ways a reiteration of his 2005 Address to the Roman Curia…which most of us didn’t notice.

The fact that he chose now to hit the same theme suggests that it’s important and tied to the legacy of his papacy. I’ve got an article on it here at National Catholic Register, which includes links to both addresses. At the very least, skim my piece. If you can, read both of his addresses. I see the potential for some great doctoral work here.

Key points:

The content of the faith is unchanging; the ways in which we communicate it might change due to circumstances. But it’s the same teaching.

Vatican II got hijacked by the media. B16 says that there were two councils: The real on and the virtual one that was held by the media. The real one is prevailing. This has been his and JP2’s life work.

Life before V2 was not idyllic. The Church was facing a real crisis: “it seemed like a reality of the past and not the bearer of the future.”

The liturgy needed to be reformed.

Exciting times ahead, particularly as the cardinals prepare for the Conclave.

So, here’s my two cents about B16’s resignation. In a piece in the Washington Times today, I maintain that this is part of John Paul II and Benedict’s vision for…

So, here’s my two cents about B16’s resignation. In a piece in the Washington Times today, I maintain that this is part of John Paul II and Benedict’s vision for the future of the Church. You can read the piece here.

Additionally, I think it’s important to note that Benedict will be remembered for influencing two consistories conclaves. The last with his homily on the dictatorship of relativism and this with his extremely clear signals as to what the leadership of the Church should look like.